Golf instructor



Oct. 26 1926.

1,604,118 W. J. GLANCEY GOLF INSTRUCTOR Filed March 6. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Oct. 26,1926. 1,604,118

W. J. GLANCEY GOLF INSTRUCTOR Filed March 6, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Oct. 26 1926.

w. J. GLANCEY GOLF INSTRUCTOR Filed March 6, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNVENTOR am J lmwg, BY

ATTQRN EYS Oct. 26 {1926.

1,604.118 W. J. GLANCEY GOLF INSTRUCTOR Filed March 6, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 in .mmlilllll mil ,z5 zi s /z 5 6 a INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 26,1926.

' UNITED STATES WILLIAM J'. GLANCE Y, F MORBISTOWN, NEW JERSEY.

GOLF INSTRUCTOR.

Application filed March 6, 1926. Serial Ho. 92,663.

This invention relates, generally, to a novel apparatus for instructing and training the user in the correct form and manner of playing the game of golf.

6 The invention has reference, more articularly, to a novel apparatus for habituating the player to the proper stance and body pose when addressing a golf ball with the club, as well as in the proper body moveinents which should accompany the swing of the club in order to-efiect accurate and powerful driving of the golf ball.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be 16 clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

WVith the various objects of this invention in view, the same consists, primarily, in the novel golf instructor apparatus hereinafter described; and the invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the con struction of the same, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described, and finally embodied in the appendedclaims.

The invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front-elevation of the novel 39 golf instructor apparatus showing the player in proper initial position addressing the golf ball; Figure 2 is a "simliar view, showing the position of the player at the end of a driving stroke or swing with the club; and

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a platform or base with which the apparatusmay be provided.

- Figure 5 is a detail plan view of. the

players body belt provided with the combined guide rods and sighting elements in operative relation to-the fixed guide frame 'of the apparatus; Figure 6 is a similar view showing the body belt and its guide rodsand sighting elements as positioned relative to the guide frame when the player is in proper position at the beginning of the. club swinging movement; and Figure is a similar view at the end of the club swinging movement.

v Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the yieldable head brace of the apparatus; Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective of the club stop of the apparatus; and Figure 10 5 isa diagrammatieview illustrating the manner of utilizing the sighting elements of the 4 players body belt.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indicate correspondin parts. 1

'Referring now to said draw1ngs,.the ref.- erence character 1 indicates a main standard which is suitably supported in an upright or vertical osition, preferably by connectin the same 'y a foot piece 2 or like means, witfi the rearward portion of a suitable platform or base 3.

Slidably mounted on said standard, for vertical adjustment thereon, is a sleeve 4:, the same having a set-screw 5, or other suitable means, for fixing it in desired adjusted position. Said sleeve is provided with a forwardly projecting lateral socket element 6.

The reference character 7 indicates a substantially circular guideframe, to the rear side of which is. secured a rearwardly projecting stud or arm 8 which is received in and adjustably related to said socket element 6, the latter having a set screw 9, or other suitable means, for fixing the stud or arm 8 in desired adjusted position, to in turn properly support said guide frame in forwardly off-set relation to said standard 1'. Said guide frame 7 is so constructed that the same maybe opened out to admit the player within the embrace of the same, and to this end said guide frame includes side sections 10 and 11, pivotally connected with the fixed section by suitable hinge elements 1%. The free ends of said side sections 10 and 11 are provided with interengaging tubular knuckles 13, which, when registered together, may receive a removable lock-pin 14L- for retaining said side sections in operative closed together position. The side section 10 of the guide frame is provided with a guiding means, preferably in the form of a. slotted guideway 15, which extends fro a point adjacent to its forward end rearward? 9 toward the back of said guide frame; an

in like manner, the side section 11 is pro vided with a similar slotted guideway 16, which likewise extends from a point adjacent to its forward end rearwardly toward the back of said guide frame. It will be understood that various modifications in mechanical detail or design may be made in the above described construction of guide frame without departing from the scope of this in vention, and consequentlyl do not limit my self to the exact details of construction thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and as above described.

The reference'character 17 indicates a detachable body belt adapted to be wornabout the waist of the player using the apparatus, the same being provided with means to cooperate with the guide frame, when the 'player stands within the embrace of the body of the belt is reenforced by rigid ar- 'cuate members, preferably made of metal,

comprising a left side member 20'and a right side member .21, which are suitably secured to the belt body, and the rearward meeting ends of which are pivotally interconnected by a hinge 22, so that the same may be swung apart when applying the belt to or removing it from the waist of the user. .Securcd to said belt body-in connection with thele-ft side reenforcing member is a laterally,

ro'ectin ri 'd ide arm 23, so disposed is o. prt fject but v trdly from the left side of the wearer of the belt, and from apoint slightly forward of the left hip of the wearer. The free end of said guide arm iterminates in a'ring-like element 24, the perforation of which serves as an eye-sight means,

laterally projecting rigid guide arm 25, so

inthe manner to be 'subsequentlyexplained, Secured to said belt body in connection with the right side 'reenforcing member 21 1s a disposed ,as to project outwardly. and sidewise from the right side of the wearer of the' belt, and from a point substantially in line with the right hip of the wearer. The free end of said guide arm 25 also terminates in a ring like element 26 0 provide an eye- 1 sight for purposes to be subsequently set forth.

Vertically adglustable on the upper end of the sleeve 4, 0m which the guide frame 7 is supported, is a secondary sleeve 37 to which is secured a forwardly projectingbracket 28 having at its outer end an upturned extension 29 to which is in turn secured a forwardly extending arm 30. Mounted on' the extremity of said arm 30 is a werticall disposed cylindrical-barrel. 31, in=which 1s slidably' arranged a plunger 32, the stem' 33 of which projects downwardly andexteriorly from the lower end of sard cylindrical barrel 31. vArranged within said barrel ;31' above said plunger 32 is a compression spring 34, and, if desired, a similar spring 35 of lesser tension maybe arranged between the lower efid 'of the barrel 31 and the underside of said plunger, all whereby a floating yieldable support of said plunger is provided farv the user first dons the b'ody guide frame.

.the guide arm 25 so Lace, 1 1a Secured to the lower exterior end of said stem 33 is a head brace, preferably in. the form of cap 36, the interior side of which v may be suitably padded as at 37, to render the same comfortable to the user of the appa-ratus. Said secondary sleeve 27 is provided with a set screw 27, or other suitable means for locking the sleeve 27 in proper adjusted .position to in turn position the head bracein proper relation to the head 7 of the user of the apparatus in accordance with the height of said user. Mounted on the lip-turned extension 29 of the bracket 28 is a club-stop 38, the purpose of which will be later described.

In order to assist in adjusting the sleeve 4 according to the height of the user of the apparatus, to bring the guide frame 7 to proper position in accordance with such height, the standard 1 may be provided, if 55 desired, with graduations or calibrations, withireference to which the sleeve 4 may be moved and adjusted. In like manner,

to assist .in adjusting the secondary sleeve 27 to position the head brace in corrcspondence to the .height'of theuser of the apparatus, the sleeve 4 on which said secondary sleeve 27 is slidable, may also be provided with graduations or calibrations, ifdesired, with reference to which the latter may be moved and adjusted. v 1 In making use of the novel golf instructor, belt 17, so that the same encircles the waist, with the guide arms 23 and 25 properly positioned for outward extension fromthe hips in the manner already abovedescribed. The side-members l0 and 11 of the guide frame 7 being opened,

the user positions himself upon the plat-' form 3' and within the embrace of said- Inclosing and securing the s1de members 10 and 11, the user so arranges and disposes the guide-arm 23, that the/ same projects'outwardly'through the slotted guideway 15 of the left side member 10, and, in like manner, arranges and disposes that the same project-s outwardly through the slotted guideway 16 of the right side member 11, thereupon closing the side members 10 and 11 and interlocking their meeting ends together by. the .p1n'14 or other provided fastening. The

head brace 36 having been properly adjusted, tlfe users head is positioned beneath the same, and thereupon, the golf ball -Bi or other suitable mark being placed in proper position in. front of the user, and the golf club' O grasped, the user i ready to begin. practice.

As a further aid in taking the pro r stance in addressing the ba" B, indl -tin foot positioning marks 39 may be inscribed on the platform 3, the same bein varied according to the position it is desired the feet shall assume preparatory to a given swinging back the club C, the player is compelled to turn the body at the waist from left to right, and in so doing causes the guide arm 23 to swing from left to right until stopped at the end of the slotted guideway 15, thus establishing the desired initialposition of the body preparatory to the driving swing or stroke of the club. As a further aid tothe assumption of such correct bodily position preparatory to the driving stroke, and to habituate the player in training the eyes properly and constantly on the ball being thus addressed, said guidearm 23 is provided with the eye-sight 24 through which the ball is initially sighted, thus compelling the player to turn the body the proper distance to the right in order that the eye-sight 24 of the arm 23 may be interposed between the eye and the ball addressed. In thus turning the body at the waist, while the head 'isheld steady by the head brace and the eye properly directed upon the ball position, not only is the guide arm 23 brought to initial position in its slotted guideway 15, "but the guide arm 25 is likewise retracted to .an initial position in its slotted guideway 16, all of which is illustrated more particularly in Figures 1 and 6 of the drawings. I s

.The player having thus been compelled to assume the correct stance and bodily pose preparatory to the driving stroke, now swings the club C downward and upward from right to left through the arc of movement proper to the driving stroke. In so doing the guide arms23 and 25 are caused to ride through their respective slotted guidew'ays 15 and 16 of the guide frame 7, until the guide arm 25 fetches up against the forward end of said slotted guideway 16 thus determining the end of the driving swing plus thedesired follow through movement of the club The player is compelled to properly follow through with driving swing or stroke in order to bringthe eyesight 26 of the guide arm 25 in sighting interposition between the eyes and the ball or mark against which the swing is directed. It will be evident that in making the swing, the guide frame? in cooperation with the guide arms moving therethrough will compel movements, without undue side sway or undue lifting orfalling of as body, while at the same timethehead brace 36 will aid the player in holding the head still and steadied against the temptation to undesirable'turning movement, and yetthe head brace 36 will readily yield to the slight uplift of the head which naturally accompanies the follow through movement of the upward swing which ends the stroke] The stationary guide frame as it embraces or encircles from the waist a sufiicient distance to assure adequate natural freedom of bodily movement during thestroke, and yet is sufficiently close to the body so as to provide a stop against undue side swaying of the body either to left or right during the makingof the driving swing or stroke. Preferably the guide frame 7 is so positioned as to pitch slightly downward from rear to front, or the slotted guideways 15 and 16 themselves are given such slight downward and forward pitch or slope, as to assure the relatively free movement of the guide arms 23 and 25 the waist of theplayer, is spaced outwardly therethrough which is thenatural accompaniment of proper bodily movements incident to the driving stroke.

From the above description it will be readily understood that the use of the novel training apparatus above described will soon habituate the {player to the proper stance and the proper bodily movements best calculated to produce correct and powerful driving strokes; and faithful use of the ap paratusby the player will not only tend to naturally induce the habit of properly coordinated muscular and bodily movements incident to the proper address of a golf ball, but will also tend to quickly correct improper positions or movements of the body either common to novices or which are the result of improper habits already acquired by more experienced players.

The apparatus may be used as an aid to teaching by professional gol instructors, as

well as a home or self trainer for players of the game.

I am aware that changes may be made in the various arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts making up lili llll

my novel gof instructorapparatus, as well I as in the details of the construction of the same, without departing from the scope or from the principles of the invention as shown in the drawings, described in theforegoing specification, and defined in the following claims' I I claim: j y I 1. In anapparatus of the kind described, a body belt adapted to be secured around the waistof the user, a stationary guide frame provided with suitable supporting means and within the embrace of which the the player to make the proper body turning user may be positioned, and means connected with said guide frame for compelling properbodily positions and movements of operate with said guide frame for compeL of the user.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described, a body belt adapted to be secured around the ling proper bodily positions and movements Waist of the user, a standard, a platform having foot. positioning marks upon which said standard is mounted, a guide frame within the embrace of which the user 'may be positioned, means for adjustably mounting said guide rame in supported relation to said standard, and means connected with said body belt to movably cooperate with said guide frame for compelling proper bodily positions and movementsiof the user. 4,. In an apparatus of the kind described, a body belt adapted to be secured around the waist. of the user, a standard, a guide framewithin the embrace of which the user may be positioned, means for adjustably mounting said guide frame in supported relation to said. standard, and means connected with said body belt to movably cooperate with said guide frame for compelling proper bodily positions and movements of the user, a vertically'yieldable head brace, and means for adjustably supporting said head brace from said standard and relative to said guide frame.

5. a body belt adapted to be secured around the waist of the user, a: standard, a platform having foot positioning marks upon which said standard is mounted, a guide frame withirrthe embrace'of which the user may,

be positioned, means for adjustably mounti'ng said guide frame in supported relation to said standard, and means connected with said body belt to movably coperate with said guide frame for compelling proper. bodily positions and'movements of the user, a vertically yieldable head brace, and means for adjustably supporting said head brace from said standard and relative to said guide frame.

6. In an apparatus of the kind described, a body belt adapted to be secured around .the waist of the user, a stationary guide-- frame provided with suitable supporting means andwithin the embrace of which the user may be positioned, said guide-frame in-v eluding hinged left and right side members each provided -.with slotted guideways,

means for interlocking the free ends of In an apparatus of the kind described,

said side members in encircling relation to the Waist of the user, and said body belt having laterally projecting guide arms fixedly the respective slotted guideways of 'said guide frame for predetermined movementtherethrough.

7. In an apparatus of the kind described, a. body belt adapted to be secured aroundthe waist of the user, a stationary guide-frame provided with suitable supporting means, and Within the embraceoof which the user maybe positioned, said guide-frame including hinged left and right side members each guided provided with slotted guideways, means for interlocking the free ends of said side members in encircling relation to the waist of the user, and said body belt having laterally I progecting guide arms fixedly secured thereto substantially at opposite sides thereof,-said guide arms being adapted to respectively project outwardly through the-respective slotted guideways of said guide frame for predetermined guided movement therethrough, said guide arms each having perforate eye-sights at their outer free ends.

8. In an apparatus of the kind described, a body waist of he user, a standard, a guide frame within the embrace of which the user may 1 be positioned, means for adjustably mounting said guide frame in supported relation to said standard. said guide frame including hinged left and right side members each pro vided with slotted terlccking the free ends of said side members in encircling relation to the waistof the user, said body belt having laterally pro- 7 jecting guide arms fixedly secured thereto substantially at opposite sides thereof, said guide arms being adapted to respectively project out wardly through the respective slotted guideways of said guide frame for predetermined guided movement therethrough, a vertically yieldable head brace, and means for adjustably supporting said head brace from said standard and relative to said guide frame. r

9. In an apparatus of thekind described, a body belt adapted to be secured around the waist of the user, a standardi a guide frame within the embrace [of user may be positioned, means for adj ustably mounting said' guide frame in supported relation to said standard,'said guide frame including hinged left bers each provided with slotted guideways, means for interlocking the freev ends of said side members in encircling relation to the waist of the user, said body belt having guide arms fixedly secured thereto subbelt adapted to be secured around the 9 guideways, means for in-' Ill which the I and right side mem- "laterally projecting guide arms being adapted to respectively project outwardly through .the respective slotted guideways of said guide frame for redeterniined guided movement therefhrough, said guide arms each having perforate eye-sights at their outer free ends, a vertically yieldable head brace, and means for adjustably supporting said head brace from said standard and relative to said guide frame.

10. In an apparatus of the kind described, a body belt adapted to be secured around the waist of the user, a standard, a platform having foot positioning marks upon which said standard is mounted, a guide frame, means for adjustably supporting said guide frame from said standard, said body belt having laterally projecting guide arms fixedly secured thereto substantially at opposite sides thereof, and said guide frame having guide means with which said arms cooperate and by which movement thereof is both guided and limited.

11. In an apparatus of the kind described, a body belt adapted to be secured around the waist of the user, a standard, a platform having foot positioning marks upon which said standard is mounted, a guide frame, means for adjustably supporting said guide frame from said standard, said body belt having laterally projecting guide arms fixedly secured thereto substantially at opposite sides thereof, said guide frame having guide means with which said arms cooperate and by which movement thereof is both guided and limited, said guide arms each having perforate eye-sights at their outer free ends.

12. In an apparatus of the kind described, a body belt adapted to be secured around the waist of the user, a standard, a platform having foot positioning marks upon which said standard is mounted, a guide frame, means for adjustably supporting said uide frame from said standard, said body belt having laterally projecting guide arms fixedly secured thereto substantially at opposite sides thereof, said guide frame having guide means with which said arms cooperate and by which movement thereof is' both guided and limited, a vertically yieldable head brace, and means for adjustably supporting said head brace from said standard and relative to said guide frame.

13. In an apparatus of the kind described, a body belt adapted to be secured around the waist of the user, a standard, a platform having foot positioning marks upon which said standard is mounted, a guide frame, means for adj ustably supporting said guide frame from said standard, said body belt having laterally'projecting guide arms fixedly secured thereto substantially at opposite sides thereof, said guide frame having guide means with which said arms cooperate and by which movement thereof is both guided and limited, said guide arms each having perforate eye-sights at their outer free ends, a vertically yieldable head brace, and means for adjustably supporting said head brace from said standard and relative to said guide frame.

14:. In an apparatus of the kind described, a body belt adapted to be secured around the waist of the user, a standard, a guide frame adjustably supported by said standvard, means connected with said belt body adapted to movably cooperate with said guide frame whereby their movement is both guided and limited, 9. yieldable head brace, and a bracket member to carry said head brace also adj ustably supported by said standard.

15. In an apparatus of the kind described a body belt adapted to be secured around the waistof the user, a standard, a guide frame adj'ii stably supported by said standard, means connected with said belt body adapted to movably cooperate with said guide frame whereby their movement is both guided and limited, a yieldable head brace, a bracket member to carry said head brace also adjustably supported by said standard, and a club positioning stop supported by said bracket member.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of March, 1926.

WILLIAM J. GLANCEY. 

